EU Prolongs Sanctions On Russia for Six More Months

The EU has prolonged its sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes against Russian individuals and pro-Moscow separatists accused of undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity for six more months on 13 March.

The EU first imposed the sanctions in March 2014 after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and the repeated failure to uphold the Minsk ceasefire accords brokered by Germany and France with Moscow, Kiev and the rebels. The sanctions have been renewed on a regular basis and the EU stated that the current situation would not justify the lifting of sanctions as nothing has changed. The list for sanctions covers 150 individuals and 37 companies, including advisers of Putin, parliamentarians, defence and intelligence officials and entities active in Crimea and military battalions of separatists. Sanctions against Russia on energy, military and financial sectors are to be renewed in June. Moscow claims that the sanctions are ineffective and counter-productive for ending the conflict which has already cost 10,000 lives. The latest ceasefire from on 18 February held up for only several hours.